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Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Idea for Green Bay-sponsored Zillow or Apartments.com goes to City Council after unanimous committee endorsement
Green Bay's Protection and Policy Committee's members gave their unanimous endorsement on July 28 to an idea that was marketed as a win-win-win for renters, landlords and the city. The idea was this: an online rental marketplace, like Zillow or but it's Green Bay-only and city-sponsored. The city-branded website would be built by City Wise, a Milwaukee-based software and consulting firm led by co-founders Jeremy Schmidt and Dominic Anzalone. The co-founders marketed the Green Bay project as a step toward alleviating the ever-present housing crisis. It would be built at no cost to the city, according to the preliminary agreement, and funded only by a maximum $500 monthly fee paid by landlords who list more than 20 apartments per building, the co-founders said. All other properties of "small" or government-sponsored landlords would be listed for free. The result, the co-founders said, was what they've seen across the 10 Wisconsin municipalities that've already contracted for and implemented their own city-specific rental websites since City Wise rolled out its services in October 2024. Landlords offering affordable housing options who had been put off by steep fees of private rental websites turned instead to the city website, attracted by the free listings and the city's large brand name. Renters, then, found more options compared to other rental websites ― double, sometimes triple the number of listing compared to Zillow or Anzalone said. The city, in turn, could collect more data on the kinds of rentals people were looking for the most, including duplexes and single-family homes, Schmidt said, which would inform policies that could address the housing crisis. For Green Bay, the co-founders believed they could quadruple the inventory on a city-sponsored rental site compared to And to prevent fraudulent listings, no landlord would be allowed to post without City Wise approval, Anzalone said. "The main benefit here ... is to the renter, you know, not necessarily the landlord as much," Anzalone said. "The problem we're trying to solve for if that if you're a middle-income family and you to go to a platform to find affordable housing in Green Bay, it's probably not there." Anzalone and Schmidt had tried this model once before with universities, called College Pads. It grew into a national business doing rental websites for institutions like the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and the University of Texas-Austin. They'd sold it several years ago, the co-founders said, to shift their customer to cities through City Wise. Council member Melinda Eck, who doesn't sit on the committee but was in the audience, had a concern that if not all landlords were willing to list on the website, the website's functionality wouldn't be as useful as proposed. Anzalone gave a guarantee that he said he'd given to every other city. City Wise could convince nine out of 10 landlords to use the site, he said. Otherwise, the $500 monthly fee would be reduced to a price that large landlords would be happy with. And following final approval of the three-year agreement by the City Council on Aug. 5, City Wise would begin the process of reaching out to every landlord to get them on board, Anzalone said. "It's up to the property groups if they want to participate or not, of course ... but we have never failed yet in getting landlords to engage in any of the universities we've done, in any of the cities we've done," Anzalone said. "We will get the majority of renters to use it, so the value proposition to landlord is really good to be a part of this." Cheryl Renier-Wigg gave the idea "two thumbs up" as the head of the city's Department of Community and Economic Development. The committee members were similarly on board. "I think this'll be great also when we do have a new development come in," said council member William Morgan, who sits on the committee, "and people coming in who don't want it in their backyard, they'll say, 'We have plenty of rentals.' Well, we can go to City Wise and see that it's not as much as you think." Jesse Lin is a reporter covering the community of Green Bay and its surroundings, as well as politics in northeastern Wisconsin. Contact him at 920-834-4250 or jlin@ This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Green Bay-sponsored Zillow to help renters find housing Solve the daily Crossword
Associated Press
24-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Rentby Officially Launches in Texas and Oklahoma - Accelerating Hassle-Free Renting Across the Heartland
Rentby launches in TX & OK, offering a hassle-free, community-driven rental marketplace with verified listings and local support. NORMAN, OK, UNITED STATES, June 24, 2025 / / -- Rentby, the local rental marketplace offering a user-friendly and secure platform for rental transactions, is thrilled to announce its official launch in Texas and Oklahoma. This significant milestone marks a key phase in Rentby's strategic rollout across the United States, establishing its rental experience for both renters and lenders in the region. With this launch, residents of Texas and Oklahoma now have instant access to Rentby's unique rental marketplace, which features local listings, a user-friendly experience, verified users and listings, and exceptional customer service designed to empower the community in making confident rental decisions. 'The launch into Texas and Oklahoma marks our dedication to the local markets that we live and work in. Providing a reliable platform that simplifies the rental experience without the burden of ownership is something that we've envisaged for a long time,' said a spokesperson for Rentby. 'By connecting renters and lenders seamlessly, we are building a community of shared resources built on trust, security, and innovation.' This launch is just the beginning. Rentby is excited to continue its expansion with upcoming launches in Wyoming, Montana, Kansas, and Arkansas planned over the next few months. Additional states will be added throughout 2025 as part of Rentby's mission to be recognized nationwide as a premier rental solution. As Rentby continues to grow, it remains committed to its core values of Accessibility, Trust, and Community. The app not only simplifies the rental process but also promotes a sense of community through reliable and supportive customer services, such as listing support and dedicated business services for rental operators. Rentby is transforming the rental landscape by providing an Airbnb-style marketplace that emphasizes ease, security, and mutual benefit. For more information about Rentby or to begin your rental journey, visit today. Rentby Press Team Rentby [email protected] Visit us on social media: Instagram Facebook X LinkedIn Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
